EDUCATING YOUTH, ESSENTIAL FOR THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD

VATICAN CITY, APR 29, 2000 (VIS) - Fifty-five Brothers of the Christian Instruction of St. Gabriel, in Rome for their general chapter, were welcomed this morning by John Paul II, who told them that "the Church rejoices in seeing the renewed vitality of your Institute as witnessed by the important number of young members on different continents, especially in countries where evangelization is recently developed."

"In the eyes of the world," he continued, "you witness to the fact that love and pardon are stronger than hatred and resentment, thus inviting our contemporaries to base their personal, family and social lives on the primordial value of charity, so that peace, justice, and solidarity are sought by everyone in building human bonds in the heart of society."

The Pope recalled that the general chapter is reflecting on "Mission, The Source of Life. In The Steps of Montfort, Committed to A Just and Fraternal World." This Institute is one of three founded by St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort, who lived from 1673 to 1716 and was canonized in 1897.

"Your Institute," remarked the Holy Father, "is completely oriented towards educating the young. More than ever this is an essential task for the Church and the world of tomorrow. In effect, your vocation is to accompany young people in their spiritual, moral, human, intellectual and professional formation, and to prepare them to become adults who assume their share of responsibility at all levels of their future lives."

"I especially thank you," he concluded, "for the part you play in educating the poorest young people in society, or children who are often rejected, the deaf, blind, children from shantytowns and those who live in the streets."

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